NY Islanders GM Mathieu Darche provides update on Pageau, Drouin before Tampa game

New York Islanders general manager and executive vice president Mathieu Darche provided injury updates and reflected on his return to Tampa Bay as he met with reporters Saturday morning ahead of the team’s game against the Lightning.

Center JG Pageau participated fully in practice for the first time since suffering an upper-body injury on Nov. 22 but will miss his seventh straight game. Pageau has 12 points in 22 games this season. “Pageau is very close,” Darche said. “There’s still a chance for tomorrow, but we’ll see. We’re talking days. As you saw, he’s basically going through a full practice.”

Forward Jonathan Drouin will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury. Drouin, who has 15 points in 26 games, remained on Long Island for treatment. “I don't expect him to be out too long,” Darche said. “Hopefully it’s just day to day.”

Darche also praised rookie winger Max Shabanov, who has nine points in 16 games and has taken on a larger role following Kyle Palmieri’s season-ending ACL injury. Shabanov has six points in 10 games since returning from an upper-body injury. “He came back, it’s always an adjustment the first few games, and then he has been playing extremely well,” Darche said. “Now he’s got an opportunity with Palmieri out and he’s been playing really well with Bo and Heineman.”

Saturday also marked Darche’s first trip back to Tampa as a visiting GM after spending six years in the Lightning organization, including three as assistant general manager. “I had a great six years here,” he said. “But it’s very different than if it were a coach or a player coming back. I’m not on the ice. I don’t have an impact on the actual game itself when it’s being played.”